THE CENTRAL COAST PLANT FIELD GUIDE
Know what’s growing.
Look closer at the plants around you. Search a growing collection of practical profiles, from garden weeds to native wildflowers and plants that need extra caution.
Bermuda buttercup
Oxalis pes-capraeA bulb-forming perennial with cloverlike leaves and bright yellow flowers. Also called sourgrass.
Read field guide profilePoison hemlock
Conium maculatumA highly toxic plant that can resemble other members of the carrot family. Identification requires particular care.
Read field guide profilePacific poison oak
Toxicodendron diversilobumA native shrub or climbing vine whose oil can cause allergic skin reactions.
Read field guide profileCape ivy
Delairea odorataA coastal invasive vine capable of forming dense coverings over other vegetation.
Read field guide profilePampasgrass
Cortaderia selloanaA large perennial grass established in coastal and other California habitats.
Read field guide profileFennel
Foeniculum vulgareAn upright perennial herb that can form dense stands in California natural areas.
Read field guide profileBermudagrass
Cynodon dactylonA warm-season perennial grass used in lawns that can also spread into garden beds.
Read field guide profileCalifornia poppy
Eschscholzia californicaCalifornia’s state flower—a reminder to identify plants before deciding what to remove.
Read field guide profileSources you can follow.
Profiles link to their published references. Initial sources include UC IPM, Cal-IPC, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and USDA NRCS. Reference photographs are available on those source pages; the decorative guide marks above are not identification images.
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